LAC LA BICHE - Listed as the only school in the region under a provincial COVID-19 'watch' status, Aurora Middle School staff continues to plan and create student events making life less stressful for students, parents and staff.
Northern Lights Public Schools spokesperson Nicole Garner confirms that 13 active cases have been linked to the school in recent weeks — all suspected to have been community transmitted, but identified in school staff or students. Going into the past weekend, Garner said almost all student and staff members who had been put into forced contact self-isolation were due to be back in the school.
As of the provincial announcement on Nov. 27, only students in Grades 4 to 6 are in the school doing in-class learning, with students in the school's Grades 7 and 8 classes learning virtually from home. The reduction in student population — down to about 150 from more than 300 — has helped to reduce the risk of the virus spread, says Garner. A recent "deep clean" of the school after a one-day closure also helped to reduce risks of transmission.
Garner says only the last of the 13 confirmed cases came after the one-day closure, meaning they would have been symptomatic after the clean — "but we don't know whether it was acquired in the school or from the community."
As Aurora officials prepare for the last week of school prior to the Christmas break on Dec. 18, local community groups are doing their part to help the young students keep positive outcomes.
Say Cheese!
An army of La Biche Boston Pizza staff helped to prepare and deliver individual cheese pizzas to every student and staff member at Aurora for lunch on Monday.
"Staff will deliver to classrooms with COVID-19 safe protocols," noted principal Conal Donovan leading up to the donated cheesy treat.
MNA computers
The Boston Pizza donation follows an announcement from the Métis Nation of Alberta, giving free Chromebook laptop computers to students identifying as Métis. School officials say the donation comes from the Rupertsland Institute and the MNA, and there is a limited number of the computers available for Metis students in Grades 7-12.
"Parents of students in Grade 4 through 6 will be learning online from Jan. 4 to 8 and should inquire about their eligibility directly to the Rupertsland Institute," says Donovan.
The available Chromebook laptops will be given to card-carrying citizens of the MNA or families who identified their children as Metis at the start of the school year.
"The Chromebooks are for families to keep to support their child's lifelong learning," notes Donovan.
Only one Chromebook will be available per household. The application process can be found at the Métis Nation of Alberta website.